[TheGammaGeek]

I plan on majoring in psychology one day and hopefully getting a Ph.D so I can be a counselling pyschologist (the irony). What classes would be good considering my field of interest? So far, I have the following schedule for junior year:

• Honors American Literature
• Spanish III
• AP Psychology (semester 1)/ Anthropology (semester 2)
• Honors Chemistry (already did biology)
• MAYBE statistics
• US Government/ US Economics

Does this sound like it would be wise? I want to be prepared for college, and considering my mental problems (depression, anxiety, Aspergers) I really need to be prepared.

Plus I want to rub my Ph.D in my parents' faces, but that's beside the point.

[Marie123]

Hmmmm....psychology-wise....it doesn't sound like rubbing the Ph.D. in your parents' faces....is...beside the point?

Perhaps (if you already haven't done so), you might want to get into counseling. I am a student in psychology and a freshman, moderator of an abused survivor's support group, also. Your advisor can help you select the proper classes.

At my University, there are the pre-requisites (I just completed), followed by the General Eds., and then the Core classes. Good luck! Just make sure you are taking classes/ in the right field....because YOU want to and not doing it for other reasons.

[Christina86]

Stats is important as part of psychology, whether you like it or not. I hate stats, but it's a necessity. What are your other options for classes? What type of counselling can you forsee yourself doing, children/youth, adult, educational, pastoral, forensic, personality disorders, family/couples etc? Whatever you decide will impact your course selection for your future PhD.

[(JD)]

I would check with the local college at least and see how they handle the AP Psych course you have as an option...if it covers a general course, take it. You will need some statistics for psych, but not so much for counseling psych as clinical... see what that avails you as well (that particular course) If you aren't good in math, you might want to take it and then if you take it again later in college you'll do better?

When I obtained mine being bilingual was a requirement. Not so anymore...but it could be a State certification thing... check and see... and consider the Spanish 3.

You will be required to have personal counseling before certification probably. Best to work out issues now, and then tweak them at that time rather than find out during the course of studies that you approach some area of your life in an adverse manner. Good wishes!

[einundzwanzig]

I liked stats... the research part of psych is interesting... but ya it does look like a wise schedule. accept for the spanishIII part, should have took German then again im biased.... any way its good to do counseling if you have experience as being the patient, you can relate to your future patients.. did that make any sense? but ya im also wondering, what part of psych you interested in? its good to have high goals... all the best to you, in your plans.


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[TheGammaGeek]

I was interested in counselling, and it turns out I am allowed to take stats, so thats on my list still for next year. I don't know if my depression is real bad or what, but I gave up on that stupid idea of going to college. That should be enough to prove I'm not fit for psychology. Thank you for your help anyway.

[TheGammaGeek]

And I've already taken two years of spanish since I have so many hispanic people in my family by marriage. That's why I'm sticking with it.

[Perna]

I don't think you should pay much attention to your depression and its telling you whether it's a stupid idea or not to go to college. You are taking lots of very hard, advanced classes. As Christina says, stats is certainly needed for studying psychology, as most psych courses aren't really the interesting behavioral and counseling courses one would think but are difficult science courses where one has to understand brain chemistry and how the senses work and how to do experiments where the "math" of statistics get involved.

I think if you are interested in psychology and might like to study it in college later (I wouldn't worry a whole lot about getting in or whether you'll get a PhD right this moment; you are taking courses that will get you "in" to good colleges no matter what and you don't quite have to plan for what's might happen, what you might like 10 years down the road) I would get as rounded an education now as you can because with each year, one has to narrow the field of what is studied until you will just be "thinking" psych courses.

That being said, I would also work on having more "free" time or not taking a whole lot of courses/courses that are extremely time-consuming as that sounds like a lack of balance at this time. As time goes on, one doesn't get as much chance to take courses one might just enjoy or pursue interests just because one is interested. I would leave time to take "fun" electives and/or join a group/club and work a little bit on seeing what you can do to help with the depression. It may/may not be with you a long time and working on coping with/alleviating it now so you can better apply yourself later, might be a good idea?

[Omers]

I have aspergers, depression and had PTSD and a BA in psychology. Looks like a good plan. My high school psych class did not count when I got to college but it was still really valuable... I breezed through my required intro psych classes with little effort... A big help when you are dealing with all the transitions of going to college.
Also, as a psych major one of the things I did in college was find the area I wanted to work on and focused on that as much as I could. My area of interest was child abuse so most of my papers in one way or another related to child development and child abuse. By the time I got to 2nd semester my Jr year papers were easy. I already had all my research and note cards done all I had to do was put them together into a new paper that fit the topic. It saved my tons of time in the library and a lot of money on photocopying things. My Sr thesis, a two semester class, only took me about 8 hours to complete. As an Aspi I think it is easier to stick to one topic and not get bored with it.
Also, taking Stats in high school would be good too. Getting into graduate school is even harder than getting into college. If you take stats in high school you will do better in it at college and it will look better on your transcripts.
Seeing as you don't seem to want to stop until your PhD another thing I did that helped was to take the classes I wouldn't get as good a grade in early on in college (biology!). One, it gives you the chance to take them again. Two when you interview for graduate school lower grades late in college are more difficult to explain than a low grade your freshman year. I was able to explain away a low biology grade as immaturity and point out that all my grades after my freshman year were significantly better.

[Omers]

Oh, and on your last point... My parents, especially my dad, were furious! Not only did I go to college, I made honors and didn't get a degree in anything they valued (my family is largely blue collar workers and I was stepping out of line). If rubbing it in your parents face is what motivates you to succeed then you best graduate with honors! The actual rubbing of the diploma in their face is optional... and by the time you have your PhD you will likely have other things to do with your energy.

[einundzwanzig]

I hate to see you give up so easy...

21

[Omers]

Me too... It is SO possible. Believe me I made it! I found college to be emotionally a LOT easier than high school. You have so much more ability to control and plan your life as well as pace yourself. If you are taking AP classes already the work (at least for me) is much easier in college.
I would be more than happy to talk with you about it if you want. Just PM me as I sometimes flake and miss new posts on threads.

[salukigirl]

Honeslty - don't focus on anything specific. You will be a junior in high school so you're about 16? You know what I wanted to do at 16? I wanted to go into journalism. You know what I do now (I'm almost 24)? I'm a graduate student in ENTOMOLOGY! You WILL change your min about a bajillion times between now and then. I think I change my major......7 times? And I know 1 person who graduated college in 4 years and didn't change their major......their job is not even remotely close to what their degree is in and they paid 60,000 for a piece of paper......Let yourself be open to things.

[TheGammaGeek]

Entomology? I got entomophobia, so I'm assuming that is the study of insects lol? I do change my mind, but it varies only from psychologist to zookeeper and back. I've wanted to be a zookeeper my whole life, just like I've always wanted to be a doctor. If I change my mind, so be it. I'm not going to limit myself.

I don't think you guys understand lol; school IS my break from life. If I'm not in my room from 6 to 7 doing schoolwork, I'm cleaning, babysitting and working. It is HARD to hold a baby and do dishes at the same time, but my mom will make me do it. Plus my brother is autistic, and all of his traits clash with all mine. He screams at me just like my mother, ugh. I hate to say it, but playing with him is just stressful. In school, I'm in control. Not to brag, but I have 4 missing projects in health, and yet my grade is ABOVE 100%. I failed a test in history, and I still have an A. In other words, school is not an issue whatsoever.

I do things outside of school, being a little Girl Scouts, video games and hanging out with my friend. I also write a lot in my free time. And I am going to the most amazing zoo ever this Thursday. I also am like addicted to watching movies and reading. School is not a problem, I love my school.

I'm still taking all those classes next year. If I end up hating it, I'll do what everyone else is begging me to do and work on my computer skills. Working for Blizzard or Pixar like my uncle will be would be prety cool too. But somehow I doubt I'll hate it.

And being the daughter of a Trekkie, another incentive for me has always been the right to say "I'm a doctor, not an engineer" to one of our family's many engineerers

[salukigirl]

Question.....have you looked into being a zookeeper? You get paid barely over minimum wage and the jobs are few and far between. And you start out cleaning poop. And that's not an exaggeration. You literally start with cleaning the poop.....

[Secretum]

Congrats on doing so well in school despite the setbacks (failed test, missing projects) that your depression likely helped bring about. The fact that you are doing alright academically despite them, and that you work hard in other areas of your life, is very encouraging. Don't give up on college!

I'm a freshman (for another week, haha) in college majoring in psychology and philosophy. I am also a pre-medical student, and I intend to become a psychiatrist. I do not intend on allowing my bipolar II disorder to limit me; likewise, you should not give your depression and difficult life circumstances any decision-making power! You can do it; you'll be an excellent psychologist with a very inspirational life story some day. : )

[TheGammaGeek]

Originally Posted by salukigirl

Question.....have you looked into being a zookeeper? You get paid barely over minimum wage and the jobs are few and far between. And you start out cleaning poop. And that's not an exaggeration. You literally start with cleaning the poop.....

Of course I've looked into it; I wrote a huge report on it once for career day. I know it's a nasty job.

[lxegirl]

i'm a junior. sounds good. i took AP psych this year, it was a full year course for me (might be different for you). i lovedddd it. but your high school curriculum doesnt really matter to schools, just as long as they can see you try and you are a smart kid, which i am sure you are. pm me if you need any other advice.

[TheGammaGeek]

Alright, I signed up for my classes. Apparently I have to take regular psych first, but that's alright with me. Thank you for your help!